Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-25
STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES.
A Conference Upon the Bill to Establish

"A conference upon the Dill 10 HsstaDhei
] ir-Some Interesting Figures.
There was meeting yesterday mornin
OF The Senate Committee on Public Morals
when Z. T. Dooley, of San Francisco, ap
peared as a representative of the Pacif
Coast Conference of Charities, in advocac,
of the bill introduced by Senator Steele, t,
create State Board of Charities. This bill
is the same as Assembly bill 326 a
amended by the House Committee on Hos
pitfalls.
Mr.. Dooley called attention to the resolu
ton of the recent Conference, representing
every charity of recognized standing on the
entire coast, and urged that the Legislature
provide for the immediate establishment o.
such Board. Such Boards exist in Con
necticut, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts,
Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New
York, Ohio, Pennsylvania. Rhode Island
and Wisconsin, and are recognized as i'm
peratively necessary, as inevitable in every
other State and Territory in the Union, by
all who have given thought to the subject
The members of the Board are to have,
under the bill, no compensation whatever,
and the only expenses would be for the
salary of the Secretary and the actual trav-
ing expenses of the members. Against this
nominal cost to the State would be saving
of probably not less than 5000. 900 of the
100000 or more appropriated by the
Legislature for the maintenance of the de-
pendent and delinquent classes for the BIZ
| ennial period. This saving would be made,
Mr.. Dooley argued, not by parsimonious
economy, but by more rigid supervision
of the disbursement of the funds, and by a
more intelligent, systematic and careful ad-
| e la oh rif HI If
| the State.
Would there be any clash of authority
between the local Board of Trustees and
the State Board? On this point Mr.. Doc
| lev said No, because their duties would
| be supervisory rather than administrative.
Its great usefulness would be in the moral
power it exercised rather than any author
| ity conferred by law" He quoted from
| the report of the committee on this subject
at the recent National Conference of Chari-
ties at st. Paul: The general sentiment
has seemed to be that they should have lit
tie authority except to scold. As in addi-
ton to the claims of humanity and mercy
this question of economy must be consid-
cred, it becomes a matter of Importance to
ascertain how these imperative obligations
can be fairly met by the State with the least
cost to the taxpayer. 1t is evident that, on
grounds of both humanity and economy,
there should be thorough system in the
organization and administration of penal
institutions and public charities, careful SUI
| pervision and inspection, exposure OF abuses
| and the bringing of public sentiment to
| bear upon officers and employees; for pub
| lie sentiment must be our main reliance in
| this gigantic work.
Experience shows that as a general
rule these duties cannot be safely left to
county, city or local authorities, without
the supervision of the State. Even with
the most careful supervision cases of
| shocking neglect and cruelty occur and are
| brough. to light in every report. The
wrongs occasionly endured would hardly
seem possible, were they not proved be-
You'd doubt, when bad men under the
charges and chances of partisan politics,
are raised to positions in which they exer-
else despotic power-from which there is
no appeal. As a general rule il is found
that local public institutions gravitate
downward, and tend to become habitations
of cruelty and lust, for which there is no
relief but in State supervision and control,
backed by an enlightened public senti-
ment.'
To the objection, whether the State has a
right to any control or supervision over the
inmates of any private institution, the
monarchial governments, everywhere, the
State exercises directly and rightfully such
functions. That is the meaning of govern
ment and the special office of statesman
ship. Especially most this right, he con-
coded, if it is the States duty to support
wholly or in part, such inmates, for there
can be no duty imposed upon State or in
dividual that does not imply correspond
ing right.
Mr.. Dooley then called the attention of
the committee 10 facts and figures bearing
upon what he termed the peculiar condi-
ton in this State, which, it seemed to him,
ought to be conclusive as to the necessity
of this proposed Board. The speaker, con-
tinning, made extended remarks upon the
present uneconomical and ineffective meth
cd of caring for the INDECENT children of
the State, following being the substance of
his remarks:
If we were more accustomed to thinking
upon these themes than upon money-get-
ting schemes, they would startle the COM
munity into such immediate action that
no selfish combination of private interests
could resist. 1t is, l believe, the worst
showing to be made by any Northern or
Western State in the Union.
From the books of the State Board of
Examiners we learn that there were on the
Both day of June last 3,42S children de-
nominated as half-orphans orphans. aban-
doned and foundlings, maintained at the
States expense in private asylums-with-
ont dollar for inspection, supervision or
placing children in homes-at cost of
S229,9 i1 06. The number of children cred
tied to asylums in the foregoing is as re-
ported by the different institutions with
their claims upon the State Treasury,
for the last half of the last fiscal year.
| The number reported for the preceding six
months was $50. Even this astonishing
number does not probably cover the total
| juvenile population of these institutions, or
come within perhaps 500 OF it, for the law
! supposes that there is a considerable num-
Der of these young people supported by
! their own relatives, and without any claim
upon the State fund. Indeed the popula-
| ton of the asylums for INDECENT children
in California may safely be set at not less
| than 400. OF these, the half orphans
number iii per cent; orphans, 16l per
cent abandoned and foundlings, II per
cent OF the moneys paid for their sup
port by the State, secular or non -sectarian
| institutions received 10 per cent; Protest
ant institutions. IL lilo per cent; the He
| brew Orphan Asylum, . per cent? Catho-
| lie institutions, 81 4-l0 per cent. The av-
erage time paid for by the State for each of
| these children was l05 months, or 50 per
cent OF the entire year.
I One conclusion from these figures be-
sides many others that ought 10 be start
! ling is that these children are retained for
an indefaite period-it being plain from the
| data at hand that the common treasury
supports a body of children from year 10
year composed of the same individuals 10
] the extent OF eighty-five out of every one
/ hundred.
The dependent classes supported at pub.
lie expense in California for the year end
ing June 80, 1886, are as follows:
Obi dren supported by the State in private
g. i2s
State insane 935
State SAC
County and private asylums. ,O5i
| Deaf, dumb and blind in the asylum at
Berkeley lbl
Predetermined 81
Adult blind in the State institution for
a
Total number maintained at State expense. 9,49S
| To these | add, prisoners in county jeis
and other houses of detention (San Fran
cisco alone, 5IS list
Paupers not included aboge.............-..... GIG
Total II DC
From such information as | have, l pre-
sumo the figures here given fall not less
than 5000 short of the actual number
though the balance would be under county
ar Driyate asylum GARLAND that CalifOrr la